Mayor's Economic Recovery Plan must help voluntary sector - Dee Doocey AM

11.55.00am GMT Wed 17th Dec 2008

Dee Doocey, Liberal Democrat economic spokesperson at the London Assembly has called on the Mayor to use his Economic Recovery Plan to do more to help the voluntary sector, particularly those services offering advice to people at risk of losing their jobs, or facing financial difficulties in the current recession.

Dee Doocey said:

"The Mayor's Plan has 57 recommendations in it, and although the Mayor through the LDA is providing £33 million for small business, he is not providing any funding for the voluntary sector. Timely financial advice could help Londoners to avoid the risk of losing their homes and jobs. With the Bank of England adviser David Blanchflower warning this morning that unemployment is set to soar to three million, the pressures being put on organisations like the Citizens Advice Bureau will only increase. I urged the Mayor at his Question Time this morning to get the LDA to look at how they can support the voluntary sector - I hope he does do this.

"Londoners would expect the Mayor's plan to deliver real action but I have real concerns about some of the suggestions. For example, Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that London needs a diverse economy; this plan just delivers a new financial board. The Tube and Bus fare increase in January will put up cost of living and working in London through fare rises vastly more than any saving in council tax that the Mayor is promising.

"And recent announcements of the cancellation of vital capital infrastructure projects like the Cross River Tram, which would provide much needed investment in jobs and support for SME businesses in one of the most deprived parts of London, shows that maybe the Recovery Plan is not the only answer London needs at this time."

ENDS